![]() “One of the advantages that we had going into this study was the expertise of the research teams who conduct daily follows of these gorilla groups and who had spent years earning the trust of these elusive apes that are typically wary of human presence,” said Crickette Sanz, associate professor of biological anthropology in Arts & Sciences. ![]() In total, researchers spent more than 2,797 days observing interactions between gorilla groups in the Goualougo Triangle and Mondika, located in the northern Republic of Congo. (Photo: Kyle de Nobrega)īased on years of work following several gorilla groups, the new study paints a more complete picture of the variation in the interactions between neighboring gorilla groups in the forested environment, where western lowland gorillas spend most of their time. Through a long-term collaboration with the Congolese government and Wildlife Conservation Society, research from Washington University is changing perspectives on gorilla behavior, ecology and health - and how these factors interact in a changing world. While mountain gorillas in East Africa have been studied for more than 50 years, relatively little is known about the behavior and social lives of their counterparts in central Africa. “Close encounters between gorilla groups inform their decision making.” Broader range of interaction “Females born within the group will eventually leave to join a different group to avoid inbreeding and should be selective about which male’s group they choose,” she said. “They provide a way to gain information about the power of dominant males in neighboring groups and their support systems and also about potential reproductive opportunities. “Interactions with other groups are critical for wild gorillas,” said Kristena Cooksey, a graduate student of biological anthropology in Arts & Sciences and first author of the new study. The study is published in the International Journal of Primatology. ![]() While members of different groups were observed engaging in direct competition, gorillas from different groups also engaged in friendly interactions such as play. Louis shows that encounters between gorilla groups were much more frequent, and that they had more varied social exchanges than expected.įurther, these interactions seemed to be driven more by defense of mates than food resources. ![]() New research led by anthropologists at Washington University in St. By doing this, they benefit many other animals in the area and even help sustain the habitat of humans, who live in and around the forests.The social life of gorillas is much more dynamic than previously thought, particularly with regard to interactions between neighboring groups. They are key seed dispersers of tropical rainforests, creating suitable places for the seeds to grow and thus sustaining a number of plant species. Western gorillas are an important link in the ecosystem of their habitat. Currently, this species is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are decreasing. The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Western gorilla total population size. Presently, one of the most notable threats to this species is the Ebola virus: despite the conservation status, outbreaks of this virus are still a serious concern for the Western gorillas' population. On the other hand, excessive collection by zoos and research institutions has brought to a sharp decline in their population, making the animal an endangered species. They have been persecuted, hunted for meat and big games, and captured for commercial trade. For over a century, Western gorillas have suffered from the degradation of their tropical rainforest habitat. These animals are primarily threatened by human activities.
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